Read a full match report of the World Cup qualifier between England and
Ukraine at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday Sep 11 2012.

After a golden summer for other sports, England’s footballers ­delivered a monochrome display and were grateful to the evergreen Frank ­Lampard for sparing their blushes with a late penalty.

Many of England’s old failings were sadly in evidence, particularly the familiar fault of surrendering possession too cheaply against good opposition. Joleon Lescott gifted the ball to Ukraine for their goal, the ball dispatched elegantly and unerringly into the England net by the excellent Yevhen Konoplianka.

Lacklustre and labouring, England looked to be heading for a demoralising defeat, a result that would have placed Ukraine even more firmly in pole position to qualify for Brazil. It was only the arrival of the lively Danny Welbeck that dragged England back into contention.

As England played with greater urgency as the final whistle drew nearer, Welbeck began running at Ukraine’s defence, eventually forcing a penalty emphatically converted by Lampard.

The Chelsea midfielder made a point in every sense last night. At the weekend, as England reported back from 36 hours’ home leave following their thrashing of Moldova, Lampard urged the young attacking talent seeking to take up long-term residency in the first-team dressing-room to practise their shooting more.

Tom Cleverley’s game has never been spiced extravagantly with a steady supply of goals but he wasted two enticing chances here. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain failed to repeat his vibrant contribution in Chisinau, although that was also a reflection in the gulf in class between Moldova and Ukraine. It needs remembering that Oxlade-Chamberlain and Clever­ley are still learning the game, ­needing more time on the training ground and playing for their clubs.

For all the talk of Roy Hodgson’s commitment to youth, England were reliant on a 34 year-old for their goal. Lampard’s 26th for his country takes him alongside Bryan Robson in the all-time scoring list.

He ended up as captain as well as saviour, following Steven Gerrard’s dismissal for two yellow cards. The self-inflicted damage for England would appear to be minimal as Gerrard was sent off with only two minutes left and with a suspension ruling him out only of the Wembley date with San Marino next month. Glen Johnson also misses the game following his second booking in as many games.

England will cope, probably introducing Michael Carrick into midfield and Kyle Walker at right-back, but it was still ill-disciplined fare from two of their more experienced player. Gerrard had appeared aggravated from early on by Ruslan Rotan and was first cautioned for elbowing the Ukraine midfielder. Gerrard then caught Denys Garmash, bringing the 14th expulsion in England’s history (although David Beckham and Wayne Rooney have walked twice).

It was disappointing as Gerrard had been one of England’s few bright performers. He made one crucial block, swept around some promising passes and kept ranging forward but the memory will be of his walking alone from the field. It was hardly in keeping with the Olympic spirit so prevalent this summer.

“Let The Games Begin” had been the headline on the front of the Wembley programme, a rather arrogant stance given the way the Olympic Games had seized the nation’s imagination. “Let The Serious Stuff” begin would have been more apt after the stroll over Moldova. Ukraine settled swiftly, moving the ball forward with great confidence, switching play well, and it was hardly a surprise when they turned round ahead courtesy of Konoplianka’s majestic strike.

Oleg Gusiev provided an early reminder of Ukraine’s threat, his shot clipping Oxlade-Chamberlain, clearing Joe Hart but hitting the post.

England were struggling to make meaningful passage into Ukraine’s half. Midfielder Anatoliy Tymoshchuk, showing all the experience gleaned from 121 caps, sat in front of his back-four, stepping out to stalk the movement of Cleverley. Granted the freedom of Chisinau on Friday, Cleverley found space at a premium here.

Jermain Defoe darted through Ukraine’s defence, unleashing an unstoppable shot from the edge of the area which raced past Andriy Pyatov. All seemed well in the garden of England. The fans were out of their seats punching the air. But then the Turkish referee, Cuneyt Cakir, whistled for an alleged infringement, having been taken in by Andriy Yarmolenko’s play-acting. Ukraine’s No 11 pretended that Defoe’s hand had caught him in the face and he fell to the floor dramatically.

Defoe then selflessly headed the ball across to Cleverley, who had the whole goal to aim at but directed his shot straight at Pyatov. Then Lescott gave the ball away after 38 minutes and Ukraine came raiding with a vengeance. Konoplianka cut in from the left and Gerrard was too slow to close him down. The Dnipro midfielder then let fly from 25 yards, sending the ball curling past Hart. It was a sumptuous strike but it was rooted in England’s enduring failure to keep possession.

Cleverley wasted another chance. When Lampard placed the ball across perfectly for Cleverley, but he made poor connection and his effort disappeared tamely. He almost made amends, striking the post as half-time loomed. Hodgson sought to shake up his stale team.

Welbeck came on for Cleverley. Then Daniel Sturridge ran on to replace the subdued Oxlade-Chamberlain. In between the two substitutions, Johnson went close, cutting in from the right and bringing a sprawling fingertip save from the diving Pyatov. To England’s disbelief, Cakir signalled a goal-kick.

Hodgson made his final change, sending on Ryan Bertrand for Leighton Baines. Welbeck hit a post and then controlled Bertrand’s ball, attempting to lift it past Yevgen Khacheridi, who handled, allowing Lampard to grab that point.